Trott puts England in driving seat

Jonathan Trott piled on the misery for Australia as England's first-innings lead took on monstrous proportions on the third morning at the MCG.

Trott (168no) characteristically retained his appetite for more runs, having begun again in glorious conditions with 141 to his name.

By lunch in this fourth Test, he had underpinned England's 513 all out - for an overall advantage of 415 - as Australia's bowlers battled through another session of suffering.

Only Peter Siddle has had a modicum of success, three more wickets giving him six in the innings.

First, he broke Trott's sixth-wicket stand with Matt Prior when the England wicketkeeper-batsman chipped a catch to mid-on 15 runs short of an Ashes century.

Trott and Prior had put on 173, though, and then after Siddle (six for 75) had Tim Bresnan edging a routine catch behind, pushing forward, Graeme Swann joined in as England pushed on past 500 for the first time in 36 years at this venue.

Mitchell Johnson took the most punishment, conceding 134 runs in 29 overs as England gained revenge for his match-winning exploits in Perth.

Ryan Harris limped out of the attack after injuring his ankle in his run-up. But Ben Hilfenhaus finally had an overdue wicket when Brad Haddin took a fine catch above his head after Swann edged an attempted hook behind, and he doubled up for good measure by clean-bowling Chris Tremlett.

England's last five wickets fell for a modest 54 runs. Yet Australia's damage limitation was minimal, and they were well aware they must bat for the remainder of the match to stop the tourists retaining the Ashes here.

By the time James Anderson missed a Siddle half-volley to be last out, only Indians Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag stood above Trott in the Test run-scoring charts for this calendar year.